Fire-escape



(No Model.)

B. R. WHITTIER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Mar -10, 1891.

WI T E55 E5 In: news rams cm. mo'ro-umm, msmnurqu, a. c.

I "UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVIN R. IVHITTIER, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Fl RE- E'SCAP E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,101, dated March10, 1891.

Application filed April 11, 1890. Serial No. 347,506. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. \VHITTIER, of Somerville, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for saving life in cases of fire in highbuildings where the occupants are obliged to jump from windows or roof,and my improvement supplies a strong but yielding net or web serving tobreak the fall and prevent maiming. By my improvementl provide aportable frame-work and a net-work of flexible material supported.thereon, into which those in danger may jump, and from which they may berapidly removed to give place to others. The frame holds the net spreadfor use, but may be collapsed or folded, and the net or web is supportedthereon by springs interposed. An

'opening is provided through the center, which may be quickly closed orcoveredby canvas, which may be removed to release those rescued.

The drawings represent one form of such frame-work and net-work, andillustrate the construction in which my invention may be best embodied,Figure 1 being a perspective view of the apparatus spread for use, andFig.2 a top plan. In Fig. l a netted fabric is shown, while Fig. 2 showsone of canvas substituted for or used over the net to re-enforce it.

A represents a broad net or web, suspended by its corners or edges fromposts or poles B, forming part of a frame and held in an uprightposition and at a proper distance from each other bycross-bars O C.These posts or poles rest at their lower ends upon the ground, leavingthe whole apparatus portable, so that it may be carried from place toplace and handled by two or four men, and the net or'web held at suchheight from the ground that persons jumping into it are received uponthe yielding flexible fabric, and thereby kept from serious injury.

Suitable springs are interposed between the poles B and net or web A, soas to give elasticity to the device in addition to the flexibility ofthe fabric. I prefer to employ compressible spiral springs D, arrangedon the outer faces of the upper ends of the poles, each within a frameE, connected to the pole at the top and provided with a rod runningthrough the spring and having a hook F at its lower end engaging therope G, which forms the margin of the web. The poles should standsomewhat obliquely, thus bringing the downward thrust in the directionof the length of the poles when a person jumps into the net. The springsmay, however, be otherwise arranged and connected so as to secure thedesired result. The cross-bars O are pivoted at their ends to the polesB and are jointed centrally, so as to fold and bring the poles nearlyinto lateral contact, the web being raised with the braces in foldingand lowered when the device is spread for use. The net or web beingentirely disconnected from the folding braces exerts no sidewise ordownward strain upon them, and hence the braces are not broken at thejoint or collapsed and prematurely folded by the shock of a personjumping into the. net from a burning building.

I provide a central opening through the net or web, which may becollapsed by pursing it with a stout cord or furnished with a flexiblecover H, having fastenings which may be quickly detached when required.The object of this feature is to enable those rescued to be removed fromthe net without taking them over the supporting marginal rope G. Whenacanvas web is used over the netting, it may be left detachable and oneedge or corner turned back when removing a person.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination of a portable folding frameand a spring-supported flexible fabric mounted thereon with a centralopening through such fabric and means for collapsing or covering saidopening, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of web or net A, poles B B, cross-bars O C, andsprings D D, the web or net being disconnected from the cross-bars andthe springs connected to the upper ends of said poles and engaging themargins of said web, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of poles B B and hori zontal crossbars O C,-j0intedcentrally and pivoted at their ends to said poles, forming a twosubscribing witnesses, on this 24th day of collapsible frame, with thenet or web A and March, A. D. 1890. the springs'D D, arranged on theouter faces of said poles at their upper ends, substan- EDVIN VHITTIER'5 tially as and for the purpose set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my A. H. SPENCER,

name to this specification, in the presence of JAMES P.. PRINCE.

